Automobile cover



July 21, 1953 o. R. GAVERTH ET AL 6,

I AUTOMOBILE COVER Filed Dec. 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 IN V EN TORS 69625622 fi. 0czz/erf7z flitarlzey- J y 1953 D. R. GAVERTH ET ALAUTOMOBILE COVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1950 @eierz fl HZberZ67 604 55072 D. R. GAVERTH E1" AL July 21, 1953 AUTOMOBILE COVER 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 22, 1950 INVENTORJ; .Zeieri J1. GaderzkPatented July 21, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE COVERDelbert n. Gaverth, Des Plaines, and Albert Erickson, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,316

3 Claims. (01. 150-52) Our invention relates to automobile covers,particularly the type which is designed to cover substantially theentire body of a vehicle, and which is also equipped so that it may befolded and rolled away in compact form at the rear in a casing supportedby, or attached to, the vehicle or automobile. 7

An important object of our invention is to provide a cover for vehiclesof the aforementioned character which will protect the said vehicle fromdamage by the elements, namely, rain, sleet, snow, sun, and thus protectthe finish of the body of the vehicle.

Another important object of our invention is to provide a cover whichconsists of a central substantially rectangular portion having twocentrally positioned rectangular portions on its sides of smallerdimension than, the first-mentioned rectangular section, and at each endadjacent the said smaller rectangular sections gored sections which arepositioned so as to afford openings between the said gored sections andthe said centrally positioned smaller rectangular sections, and slidefastener means for closing the said central openings in order to form acover which will configuratively fit the shape of a vehicle.

A still further object of our invention is to provide cover means of theaforementioned character which may be folded so as to permit rolling upof the same in a case which is supported on the rear bumper of avehicle.

Still a further object of our invention is to provide compact roll -awaycover means for vehicles which is supported by universally adjustablebrackets which will fit bumpers of. various sizes, the said bracketstructure being constructed of two elements held together by resilientmeans so as to afford extension and retraction clamp means to straddlethe varied widths of bumpers utilized.

A further object of our invention is to provide rope tieing and securingmeans at the front and rear of the said cover means which will notinterfere with compactly folding the cover means and rolling it up inthe case or container provided therefor, the said rope means beingutilized to anchor the extreme front and rear portions of the said covermeans so as to form a tight compact cover over the vehicle to which itmay be secured.

A still further object of our invention is to provide vehicle covermeans of the aforementioned character which is simple in construction,practical for the purposes for which it is pur- The upperbracket II isprovided with a reduced ported to be used, and of such simple elementalconstruction as to warrant economical manufacture thereof in quantityproduction. 1

Other features and objects embraced in our invention will become readilyapparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings bearingfurther elucidation in the following description, wherein like symbolsare used. to designate like parts, and in which;

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a vehicle shown in phantomlines, to which a cover, such as is contemplated cured.

Fig. 2 is a'perspective view of a vehiclelooking from the rear thereof;and is similar to Figure 1 Fig. 5 is'a viewlooking in'the direction ofarrows 5-5 on Figure 4 and shown partly in cross-section, the outercasing [2 being omitted for clarity.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 6-6 ofFigure l.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view looking in the direction of arrows 1-1 onFigure 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the exception that the coveris indicated in Figure 8 in folded position preparatory to rolling upthe same within the confines of the casing l2.

Referring to the various views, our invention is, generally, designatedl0, and is designed to fit a vehicle, generally, designated 9.

casing !2 supported on the rear bumper of a ve-.v hicle by brackets Hand angular brackets I 3.

The rear bumper, as can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, is of U-shapedconstruction having an upper support flange 15 and a lower supportflange I4.

leg 22 extending upwardly in-order to form a bearing 21 securing apolygonal shaft 66 about whicha spring roller 63 is rotatably mountedwithin the casing l2.

The polygonal shaft 66 is secured by means of rivets or other similarfastenings designated 28 to the bearing portions 21. A ratchet 25 and Igravity actuated pawls 26, which are articulately positioned within thecasing l2 to engage the by our'invention, is"se- The cover structure Inis adapted'to be rolled up within a ratchet 25, are so designed as toafford a releaseable locking engagement similar to a window shade rollerconstruction. The spring actuated roller 63 is secured to edge 64 of acentral rectangular section 29 of the cover Ill. The bracket I I isprovided with a large angularly formed portion I9 which extends to forma U-shaped portion It at its end which will engage the flange I5. Thesaid enlarged angular portion I9 merges with a reduced upright leg orsupport portion 22 having an opening 23 therein from which a holding orretaining lug 24 is formed. The province of this retaining lug 24 is toreceive in anchorage the loop 49 of rope ends 48 whichare secured to thecover I0.

The lower bracket I3 operates in concert with the bracket II in order tostraddle the opposed flanges It and I of a bumper structure. The lowerbracket I3 is of angular formation,as indicated, so as to form aU-shaped portion I I engaging the end of the flange I4. Both brackets IIand I3 are provided with formed loops I8 and 26 which furnish anchoragefor closely wound springs 2|, so that the brackets H and I3 canbe pulledapart or retracted by'the springs 2! in order'to form a compact andstraddling grip over the flanges I4 and of the bumper structurehereinbefore mentioned.

The cover structure-consists of central substantially rectangular panel29 having formed in transverse relationship therewith two centrallypositioned rectangular portions 34 and Adjacent the smaller rectangularportions 34 and are shown substantially gore-like portions 3! 3i, 32 and33, resulting in the formation of triangularly shaped openings 36. Atthe edges of the triangular openings 36 separable fastener :reans 5'5,58, 5-9 and 60 are provided with suitable slider elements for closingthe said openings 36. The forward portion of the central rectangularpanel 29 is provided with a sheath-like arrangement 37. in. whichatubular connection or reinforcement 38 is secured to operate as aretaining means 'for a front tieing rope 39. Throughout'the perimetralportion of the sides of the gore portions '38, SL152 and 33, as well asthe central rectangular portions 34 and 35, a rope 40 is secured inpockets 4!, s2 and 43, whereas in pockets 45, 4E and 4'! a similar ropeelement 441s secured, both ropes terminating in the loose ends as havingthe looped portions which are to be readily engaged or disengaged inanchorage with the hook or lug'means It will benoted that exposedropeportions 5!), 5|, 52 and 53 are provided which may be looped asshown in'Figures 6 and '7 so that the same will engage hooks 56 providedwith attaching flattened portions 5-6 bent at configurative with anapron 65 of the vehiclefi to hold the said hooks firmly in place.

vIn actual use and operation the casing i2. which containsthe.wound-upor coiled cover Ill, is positioneolon the rear bumper when thecover i3 is rolled up therein, the portion. 3" and the rope 3-9remaining exposed outside theconfines thereof. The saidrope v39, as wellas the reinforced portion 31, isgrasped and pulled over the top of thevehicles, and when first pulled out willbe brought out in foldedposition, as indicated in Figure 8. The sections'34, 35, and 3d, 3!,32and 33 are then unfolded and dropped over thesides ofthe' vehicle 9.-The exposedrope portions 5%,"5' ,52 and53 are then pulled'downwardlyandhooked on to the respective hooks 55 provided therefor and which areattached to the vehicle 9.

The next step is to anchor the loops 49 on the '4 hooks 24, asindicated, and the slide fasteners 51, 58, 59 and 60 are closed. Thefinal step of the operation is to grasp both ends of the rope 39 at thefront and pull tautly on the same in order to take up any slack in thecover and then tie the same in knotted formation, as indicated at 62 onthe front of bumper 8 I. To conceal the cover the reverse of theforegoing operation is resorted to, namely, the knot 52 is untied fromits support on the bumper 6 I. The exposed rope portions 50, 5|, 52 and53 are released from hooking engagement with the hooks 56. The slidefasteners 51, 58, 59

andfiil are opened. Then the gore portions 39, 3 I,

32 and 33 are folded over the central rectangular portion 29, and thesmaller rectangular portions 35 and '35 are also folded over the centralrectangular .portio1129, so that the result indicated in Figure 8 isattained. Then by grasping the rope 39 or-the reinforcement 31 the pawls2% are caused to become disengaged from the ratchet 25 holding the samein place, and the spring action will draw the entire cover means II]confining it within the casing I2. The reinforcement 3'1 and the rope 39remain exposed for subsequent repetition of the cycle of operation whenit is desired to cover the vehicle to prevent it from exposure to theelements.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuchchanges fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed our invention, what we claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. Automobile cover means fitting substantially oonfiguratively the bodyof a vehicle, comprising a cover element including'a central rectangularsection, a pair of substantially smaller rectangular portions extendingcentrally andin transverse relationship from two opposite laterals of thsaid central rectangularsection, and gore portions extending from thesaidtwo opposite laterals and positioned adjacent the said smallerrectangular portions defining triangularlwshaped openings betweenadjacent laterals of the said smaller rectangular portions and the saidgore portions when the said cover is disposed in a single plane.

2. Automobile cover means fitting substantially configuratively the bodyof a vehicle, comprising a cover element including a central rectangularsection, a pair of substantially smaller rectangular portions extendingcentrally and in transverse relationship from two opposite laterals ofthe said central rectangular section, gore portions extending from thesaid two opposite laterals and positioned adjacent the said smallerrectangular portions defining triangularly-shaped openings betweenadjacent laterals of .the said smaller rectangular portions and the saidgore portions when the said c-overisdisposed in a single plane, andfastener'means secured to the said adjacent laterals to .form ahood-like enclosure when the said fastener means are closed.

3. Automobile cover means fitting substantially configuratively the bodyof a vehicle, comprising a cover element including a central rectangularsection, a pair of substantially smaller rectangular portions extendingcentrally and in transverse relationship from two opposite laterals ofthe said central rectangular section, gore portions extending from thesaid two opposite laterals and pos l jacent the said smaller rectangularportions defining 'triangularly-shaped openings b tween adjacentlaterals of the said smaller rectangular portions and the said goreportions when the said cover is disposed in a single plane, single ropemeans connecting perimetrally the outer 1aterals of the said smallerrectangular portions and the said gore portions terminating in loopedextensions simultaneously exposing intermediate rope portions to formbases for the said triangw larly-shaped openings adapted to be removablysecured to hook means.

DELBERT R. GAVERTH.

ALBERT ERICKSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Herzer July 2, 1929 Levine Apr. 25, 1933 Wandscheer May 30,1933 Persinger July 18, 1933 Bila July 8, 1941 Bartlett Apr. 14, 1942Waterman et a1 Nov. 28, 1944 Frieoler et a1 Feb. 14, 1950

